Former Notre Dame All-American praises Penn State’s determination after win over Michigan State
Aaron Taylor praises Penn State’s fight, run game and toughness in a 28-10 win over Michigan State that keeps bowl hopes alive.
Penn State walked into East Lansing carrying more than a game plan. The Nittany Lions needed proof—proof that the season still held meaning, that the locker room hadn’t splintered, that Terry Smith’s interim leadership could stabilize a program absorbing body blows from every direction. Saturday’s 28-10 dismantling of Michigan State delivered exactly that, and it caught the attention of one of college football’s most credible observers.
Aaron Taylor says Penn State “should be commended”
Aaron Taylor has seen every angle of this sport. Two-time All-American at Notre Dame. First-round draft pick. Super Bowl champion. Founder of the Joe Moore Award. Now one of the nation’s foremost line play analysts. He knows what a fractured team looks like, and he knows what it looks like when a roster refuses to break.
That’s why his reaction to Penn State’s victory yesterday landed with such force.
“This is a team that said, we’re not done yet,” Taylor said, pointing to Smith’s raw emotion after the final whistle. “We’re unwilling as a senior class to go out like we’re doing.” He called it “a big moment” for Smith and praised Penn State for refusing to surrender: “They didn’t give up on themselves. And they should be commended.”
For a program navigating turmoil, firings, injuries, and a collapsing record, that’s more than analysis. It’s validation.
The numbers tell the story. Penn State rushed for 240 yards—Kaytron Allen bulldozed his way to 181 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries while Nick Singleton added 56 more. The offensive line controlled tempo for four quarters. When the Lions threw, they struck deep. Ethan Grunkemeyer completed just eight passes but racked up 127 yards and two scores. That’s 10.6 yards per attempt—explosive, efficient, devastating.
Taylor saw it immediately. “The story of this game was going to be run play-action,” he said. “Kaytron Allen is the battering ram. He led that charge.” He praised Grunkemeyer’s precision and Penn State’s willingness to “stretch the ball down the field” in ways they hadn’t shown all season.
The defense absorbed everything Michigan State threw at it. The Spartans ran 36 dropbacks and faced 23 pressures, 14 hurries, and five sacks. Elijah Tau-Tolliver broke a 57-yard touchdown early, but Penn State stabilized and erased Michigan State’s rhythm from that point forward.
For a unit that’s spent the last month grinding through chaos, that resilience matters. It aligns with the emotional pulse Taylor heard from Smith—the players are still fighting, even as the record sank to 4-6.
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